Fresno Man Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

FRESNO, Calif. — Desmond Divine, 21, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Nov. 8, 2021, after Divine was approached by law enforcement officers, he fled on a scooter, dropping a loaded handgun. At the time, Divine was on parole and had prior felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Jean Berger prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.